Capresso EC100 Review: A Good First Espresso Machine?

Are you looking to ditch the daily coffee shop run and make espresso, cappuccino, and latte at home instead? If so, a budget-friendly machine like the Capresso EC100 might be exactly what you’re looking for.

But can a cheap espresso machine actually make good coffee?

We tested the EC100 and dug into long-term user feedback to see whether this beginner-friendly machine is genuinely worth the money. Or if you’re better off saving for something better.

Designed for new home baristas, the EC100 is a compact semi-automatic espresso machine that offers simple cappuccinos, lattes, and espresso without spending hundreds of dollars. It promises fast heat-up times, easy milk frothing, and simple controls that won’t overwhelm you first thing in the morning.

But budget machines always come with trade-offs.

So in this hands-on Capresso EC100 review, we’ll cover how easy it is to use, the quality of espresso it produces, how well the milk frother works, and whether it’s a smart buy for budget-conscious beginners. By the end, you’ll know if this machine deserves a spot on your kitchen counter.

At a Glance: Capresso EC100 Review

✅ It’s a good fit for:

• Beginner home baristas who want a simple way to start making espresso-based drinks at home
• Budget-conscious coffee drinkers looking to replace the daily coffee shop habit without breaking the bank
• People making 1–2 drinks per day, like making an espresso or cappuccino before work
• Fans of milk-based drinks like cappuccinos and lattes who want an easy-to-use frothing wand
• Small kitchens or apartments that need a compact espresso machine

❌ This machine might not be right for:

• Serious espresso enthusiasts who want precise control over extraction and café-level shot quality
• Households that make several drinks back-to-back, as shot consistency drops when pulling multiple espressos in a row
• Entertaining or large families, as it’s slow and the quality suffers when making coffee for several people
• Buyers looking for long-term heavy use, being a budget machine, it can lose performance after a few years of frequent use
• People who want an all-in-one machine with a grinder, as you’ll need to use pre-ground coffee or E.S.E pods

1. Dual Milk Frother

Makes cappuccinos and lattes without barista skills – the foam is very forgiving, even if it’s your first time frothing milk.

The ‘dual’ part makes it flexible to suit whatever drink you’re making:

For cappuccinos, keep the black plastic frothing sleeve on – it will swirl steam through the milk, creating a denser foam.

For lattes, remove the sleeve – it will put steam directly into the bottom of the jug for a smoother texture.

2. Thermoblock Heating System

The Capresso EC100 is fitted with a unique thermoblock heating system, lined with stainless steel. This basically means it can heat the water for espresso very quickly – we found it was between 60 and 90 seconds.

It’s made by JURA, a leading manufacturer of much, much more expensive espresso machines.

3. Warming Platform

The top of the machine has a warming platform where you can place your cups. Pouring good coffee into a cold cup should be a crime. So, by keeping it warm whilst you foam your milk, you’ll get a better quality cup of coffee. 

It’s also handy for storing the portafilter and accessories if you’re anything like me and lose everything the second you put it down.

We also love that it’s removable for easy cleaning.

4. 46oz Water Reservoir

The large water reservoir reduces the need to refill the machine frequently. Anything that involves fewer steps between us and our first cup of coffee is a winner in our eyes.

Being transparent, you can easily keep an eye on water levels and top up when needed. Even though it’s removable, we’d only recommend taking it out for cleaning. It’s much easier to refill it by pouring water in using a jug whilst it’s still attached.

As a semi-automatic espresso machine, you can’t just press one button and walk away. But it also holds your hand – there’s just one knob and a couple of lights. It lights up red or green to indicate when the machine is ready to pull a shot or steam milk.

How it works:

1. Ground Coffee or Pods: Use freshly ground coffee (or E.S.E pods for convenience). As there’s no grinder built in, we’d recommend investing in a separate grinder for the best results rather than buying pre-ground coffee
2. Portafilter: Decide if you want to make a single or double shot (7g or 14g of ground coffee), and pick the right filter basket. Fill it with your coffee, tamp down, then twist the portafilter into position.
3. Controls: Turn the knob to the “coffee” symbol. This will start the EC100 pushing water through the ground coffee using the 15 BAR vibration pump. When you want the water to stop, turn the knob back to the center position.
4. Milk Frothing: Keep the black frothing sleeve on for cappuccinos or remove it for latte milk. Turn the knob to the “steam” symbol to froth your milk. It isn’t the fastest, so be patient with it.

When you’ve finished using the machine, you need to wait at least 15 seconds before turning it off. This is because it has an auto-rinse feature that vents excess pressure that you don’t want to prevent from happening.

The hardest part, as a beginner, is judging your own espresso length (when to stop the water), but this will be the same on any semi-automatic machine. It also means you can play around a bit to suit your taste.

There isn’t really much that can go wrong. However, you’ll likely need a little practice to get to a point where you’re consistently pulling shots how you like them. So be patient with yourself in the beginning.

Using pods offers an added layer of convenience if you are looking for the simplest morning coffee. Whilst it offers a little more freedom than using a single-serve espresso machine, it will never taste as good as freshly ground.

For the best-tasting espresso shots, we’d always recommend freshly grinding your own beans. Unfortunately, this does mean the added expense of a grinder, as there isn’t one built in. And, as espresso needs a fine grind, you’ll need a grinder that can excel at this, which is less common on budget grinders.

💡 For a budget-friendly grinder, your best bet is a manual one like the 1Zpresso J Ultra or Timemore C3 ESP. To see all your options, check out our manual grinder guide.

However, if you’re on a budget and just looking for a caffeine hit in the morning, then pre-ground will do the job.

The Capresso EC100 keeps things simple with a classic stainless steel and black plastic design that should fit comfortably in most kitchens.

It’s compact too, measuring 11.75″ tall, 8.25″ wide, and 10.25″ deep. So it won’t take up much counter space, ideal for those with a smaller kitchen and not much space to spare.

While this is a budget espresso machine, it doesn’t feel as flimsy as some entry-level models. The stainless steel exterior and drip tray give it a slightly more premium feel than many machines in the same price range, which are often mostly plastic. But it won’t be winning any design awards anytime soon.

There are a couple of nice design features on the EC100:

✔️ Large 46oz water reservoir: The removable water reservoir holds enough water for several drinks before needing a refill. Being transparent also makes it easy to keep an eye on water levels.

✔ Flexible steam wand: The milk frother wand has a good range of movement, making it easy to position your milk jug when steaming and move it out of the way when you’re not using it.

✔ Removable drip tray and warming plate
Both components lift off easily for quick cleaning — always a bonus for a machine that will see daily use.

Build Quality Considerations

As you’d expect from an entry-level machine, the EC100 isn’t built for heavy café-style workloads. Some users report that espresso quality can degrade after a few years of frequent use, especially if the machine is pulling several drinks per day.

However, for light daily use (one or two drinks per day), the build quality is generally solid enough to last a few years, especially if you keep up with regular cleaning and descaling. For heavier use, it would be a better investment to buy something more solidly built.

The EC100 produces decent espresso for its price, especially for casual home use.

Like any espresso machine, the quality of your shot will massively vary depending on the beans you use, the size of your grind, and how much water you use.

In our tests, we used medium roast Ethiopian beans, which we finely ground immediately before use.

When dialed in to 25-30 seconds, we found the shots to have good flavor and a medium body. But, compared to when we use the same beans in higher-end machines, it was lacking depth and complexity. There was a good crema, though this is indicative of the pressurized portafilter that comes with the machine and not of espresso quality or skill.

Consistency and Limitations

Similar to other espresso machines under $200, the Capresso EC100 shows its budget roots:

• The 15-bar pump can’t get all the flavor from light and medium-light beans, and leaves them under-extracted
• The first shot is usually the best
• Pulling multiple shots back-to-back leads to noticeable inconsistency
• Pressurized portafilters are designed to help beginners produce good-looking shots of espresso, but the quality (and, therefore, flavor) will always have limitations

Milk-Based Drinks

This is where the EC100 performs best:

The frother is forgiving and easy to use, making it simple to create cappuccinos and lattes without much technique.

• Cappuccinos: Good foam – the bubbles are slightly larger than is ideal, but it’s easily managed
• Lattes: Smooth, lightly textured milk though it’s unlikely you’ll be able to practice complex latte art

Adding milk to your espresso helps round out the sharper edges, making drinks from the EC100 taste more balanced overall.

So it really comes down to what you’re looking for from your espresso machine:

Do you want a cappuccino, latte, or espresso before you head to work in the morning, and maybe another in the evening? If so, this will do the job nicely for you at a good price.

However, if you’re looking to make coffee for 4+ people (or more than 2 double shots for yourself) every morning. Plus more during the day, then it won’t have the consistency or longevity you need.

Overall, the Capresso EC100 makes good, drinkable espresso for beginners. It’s not café-quality, but for 1–2 daily drinks, especially milk-based ones, it delivers solid results for the price.

Nobody likes cleaning an espresso machine, but it’s an important part of keeping your espresso tasting at its best, and your machine lasting as long as it should.

Luckily, there’s not much to do on a day-to-day basis with the EC100:

1. Remove Coffee Puck: Use the clip to keep the filter in place and knock the used coffee puck into the bin/compost/recycling. You need to do this after every coffee you make.
   
2. Clean the Portafilter: Thoroughly rinse the portafilter, ensuring there are no coffee grounds stuck anywhere in it.
   
3. Wipe the Brew Head: Take a damp cloth to the brew head (the part the portafilter connects to). Obviously, this will be hot straight after use, so give the machine time to cool down first.
   
4. Clean the Drip Tray: Remove and empty the drip tray before giving it a thorough rinse and wipe down. Don’t wait too long to do this, or you risk throwing water all over the floor. Yes, I learned this the hard way.
   
5. Clean the Warming Plate: Remove the warming plate cover from the top of the machine and give it a wipe down.
   
6. Clean the Milk Wand: Take a damp cloth and thoroughly clean the milk wand after every use – make sure to take the black sleeve off to do this, as milk can get in behind it. Then purge some steam through it. Milk goes nasty quickly, so always make sure it’s cleaned properly.

The full cleaning process barely takes a couple of minutes to do.

Every 3 months or so, you’ll need to dedicate some extra time (it takes us around 20 minutes) to descale the EC100. The exact frequency will depend on how hard your water is but we’d always err on the side of doing it more often than needed, rather than not often enough.

It’s a simple, but time-consuming process that uses either a specific descaling/decalcifying solution or citric acid mixed with water.

The Capresso EC100 sits in a crowded space in the budget espresso machine market.

So to help you decide if it’s the right one for you, we’d also recommend looking at two of its closest competitors – the DeLonghi Stilosa and the Casabrews 3700. They’re both also designed for beginners on a budget, and have slightly different strengths.

Here’s how they compare:

Feature	Capresso EC100	DeLonghi Stilosa	Casabrews 3700
Price	~ $150	~ $150	~ $130
Ease of Use	Easy	Easy	Easy
Milk Frother	Dual frother (beginner-friendly)	Panarello wand, designed for beginners	Manual steam wand
Espresso Quality	Good for price	Higher potential	Strong for price, capable of high quality with some adaptations
Best For	Beginners who want easy milk drinks at home	Learners/ enthusiasts	Value seekers who are short on space
	Check EC100 Price	Check Stilosa Price	Check Casabrews Price

Capresso EC100 vs De’Longhi Stilosa

The De’Longhi Stilosa is often considered the next step up for beginners who want more control over their espresso. It’s our top pick in the sub-$200 espresso machine market.

Where the EC100 wins:

• Easier to use out of the box
• More forgiving milk frother (no real technique needed)
• Better for complete beginners

Where the Stilosa wins:

• Better espresso potential if you dial it in properly
• Remove the Panarello cover to get a more traditional steam wand with finer milk control
• Slightly more “enthusiast-friendly”

Bottom line:
Choose the EC100 if you want simplicity and ease of use.
Choose the Stilosa if you’re willing to learn and want better long-term espresso quality.

Capresso EC100 vs CASABREWS 3700

The CASABREWS 3700 has become a popular budget option, offering a more modern design and slightly stronger performance at a similar price point. If looks were all that mattered, this would be my pick.

Where the EC100 wins:

• Easier milk frothing for beginners (thanks to the dual frother sleeve)
• Simpler, more forgiving overall experience
• Slightly quicker to get started with minimal learning

Where the CASABREWS 3700 wins:

• More consistent espresso shots, especially back-to-back
• More powerful steam wand for better milk texture
• Feels a bit more robust for frequent use

Bottom line:
Choose the EC100 if you want the easiest possible start with milk drinks.
Choose the CASABREWS 3700 if you want better espresso consistency and room to improve your skills.

Which One Should You Choose?

Ultimately, all 3 of these espresso machines produce decent but not exceptional espresso. Having said that, with some slight upgrades (like a bottomless portafilter), you can quickly step up the quality.

For most beginners, the EC100 still hits a great balance between ease of use, price, and drink quality, making it a strong starting point for home espresso.

There is minimal fuss and fiddling, making it ideal for beginner home coffee makers looking for a simple, affordable option.

That said, it’s important to be realistic about its limitations:

Shot consistency drops when making multiple drinks back-to-back, and long-term durability isn’t on par with higher-end machines. If you’re planning to make coffee for several people or want to really dial in your espresso, you’ll likely outgrow it fairly quickly.

The bottom line: The Capresso EC100 is a great beginner espresso machine for budget-conscious buyers who want an easy way to make coffee shop-style drinks at home. It’s not perfect, but for occasional use, it delivers solid value for the price.

If you’ve been searching for a straightforward, honest Capresso EC100 review, this machine earns its place as a reliable starter option. Just don’t expect café-level performance or heavy-duty longevity… but then, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper than a top-end espresso machine.

If this sounds like you, grab your Capresso EC100 here

Matt Woodburn-Simmonds

Matt's coffee obsession started in 2006 when working as a Barista. A tendency to turn up to work hungover kickstarted his coffee journey which quickly turned into a love affair. As he moved on to work as a Restaurant Manager and Sommelier, the obsession continued to grow. Now, his passion is helping others to enjoy better coffee at home.